Trump’s tariff decision can hurt energy security, trade, economy of India: Congress

The Congress party has criticized President Donald Trump's decision to impose 100% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, claiming it to be unjustified and having severe consequences for India's energy security, economy, and trade. Anand Sharma, Congress Working Committee member and former Union Commerce Minister, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress general secretary, warned against yielding to U.S. demands, asserting the government's responsibility to ensure affordable energy for India's 140 crore citizens.

Trump's signing of the Lindsay Graham Bill, which grants him the power to impose such tariffs, has raised significant concerns among the Congress leaders. India imports over half of its crude petroleum from Russia, making it particularly vulnerable to the global oil and gas supply disruption caused by the U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran and the West Asia conflict.

Surjewala highlighted the hypocrisy of the U.S. importing vast amounts of uranium and fertilizers while imposing tariffs on strategic partner countries. He emphasized India's right to secure energy from any nation that aligns with its national interests and its duty to protect its economy from external pressures. The Congress party expressed disappointment in the Modi-led government for its perceived capitulation to U.S. coercion, failing to build necessary leverage to safeguard India's economic interests.